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NAFSA Blog

On September 5, the Trump administration ended the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, phasing it out over the next six months to press Congress to act on a legislative solution before March 5, 2018. From that day forward, DACA expirations will not be renewed; roughly 1400 individuals will lose their DACA protection each day. The vast majority of DACA recipients have no other avenue to remain in the country legally, which means the expiration of DACA puts them at risk of... See More

In life, there are some experiences that others can try to relate to and genuinely feel sympathy and compassion for but never truly understand unless they’ve lived those experiences themselves. Being undocumented in the land of the free and home of the brave is one of those experiences and marks you forever. For twelve years, I felt like I was living in midair—I considered myself American, but my feet could never touch the ground because the government I so admired didn’t consider me one of its own. Although by textbook definition I am no longer a Dreamer, I will forever call myself one—because Dreamers are a family who relate to each other by the similarity of their scars. We’ve all been marked by the fear that our parents may not come home for dinner, falling victims to the raids. But there is one scar that stands out in all of us: the fear of not being able to attend college... See More

Last week, amidst much fanfare at the White House, Senators Tom Cotton and David Perdue introduced the Restoring American Immigration for a Strong Economy (RAISE) Act, a bill that dramatically restricts legal immigration to the United States. The President has enthusiastically endorsed the bill as a mechanism for protecting American jobs and restoring our economy, but the legislation is built on a series of falsehoods and myths about immigrants that have been spread and nurtured by anti-immigration supporters—many of whom are now in the Trump Administration—for years... See More

This is truly an exciting time to work in international education. The ever-expanding scope and impact of the work of international educators is vital in today’s globally interconnected world. But as the field grows, matures, and professionalizes, it also creates a more competitive work environment. Whether you are searching for your first job or are a seasoned professional, it is important to reflect on a couple of key questions when looking for work in international education... See More

Five years ago today, former President Barack Obama announced the creation of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, one of the most significant administrative immigration decisions of the past twenty years. With DACA, many undocumented young people who entered the United States before the age of 16 were given the opportunity to live in the United States, attend school, and work without fear of removal. Although it is a temporary reprieve, as DACA provides... See More

Hello fellow NAFSA 2017 attendees! The conference is only days away at this point. I hope you are as excited about attending as I am about welcoming you to Los Angeles. Many of you will start making your way to southern California later this week or early next week. Here are some last-minute tips for a smooth arrival. Some colleagues pointed out that transportation options at Los Angeles International (LAX) airport can be confusing. Hence, I would like to point out some important locations... See More

On May 23, 2017, Representative Gerald Connolly (VA-11) urged his colleagues in the House to remember the important contributions of international students and scholars, noting that in these troubled times, we must redouble our efforts to be a welcoming nation. Using NAFSA’s International Student Economic Value Tool, Connolly shared that in his district alone, “4,978 international students and families contributed $137 million to our local... See More

Volunteering at the NAFSA Annual Conference & Expo can be a truly rewarding experience! With the conference only a week away, some of you may be wondering if volunteering is right for you. In this post, I hope to motivate those of you who are on the fence to commit. Please kind in mind that the deadline to sign up online is Friday, May 26, which is coming up soon! Otherwise, you will need to stop by the Local Arrangements Team (LAT) office in Room 153A at the Los Angeles Convention Center to sign up. For those who have already committed, below you will find some helpful tips to make the most of your volunteering experience... See More

Before we know it, we will be packing up and heading to beautiful Los Angeles for the NAFSA 2017 Annual Conference & Expo. Whether this is your first conference or your 51st, there is something in the NAFSA 2017 Career Center (rooms 308 and 309 of the Los Angeles Convention Center) for you... See More

This week, I feel inspired to write about two neighborhoods in Los Angeles that I’d like to explore more. Without further ado, let’s dive in. For a while now, Highland Park has been deemed the new Echo Park. That is to say, the neighborhood where hipsters and seekers of trendy restaurants flock to live and hang out on the... See More

#YouAreWelcomeHere has ignited a spirit of professional collaboration and comradery more powerful than I’ve ever seen before in my career. Professionals in international education are sharing ideas, supporting each other’s initiatives and and coming together in a unified voice to affirm their commitment and caring for... See More